Foreign lawyer
If you graduated in law from a foreign university and you are a fully qualified member of a foreign Bar Association or Law Society, what do you have to do if you wish to register at the Brussels Bar? You will find all information and formalities for registration down below and in the Vademecum for European and non-European lawyers.
Lawyers who are nationals of a Member State of the European Union and who are members of an EU Bar or Law Society are entitled to establish themselves in Belgium and can request registration on the EU-list. Lawyers who are nationals of third countries (i.e. non-EU Member States) or who are members of a non-EU Bar or Law Society may also practise in Belgium on a permanent basis and can, for that purpose, request registration on the B-list.
How to apply for registration on the EU-list
An EU-list candidate should e-mail the following documents in pdf format to orde@baliebrussel.be:
A completed, dated and signed application form mentioning an office address in the judicial district of Brussels or Halle-Vilvoorde:
- [English application form EU-list]
- [Dutch application form EU-list]
- [German application form EU-list]
- An up-to-date copy of a national passport or identity card proving EU27 nationality
- A certificate of registration with the home state Bar Association that is no more than 3 months old or a valid practising certificate
- A certificate of good standing issued by the home state Bar Association that is no more than 3 months old
- A proof of payment of the one-time registration fee (see below ‘costs’)
How to apply for registration on the B-list
A B-list candidate should e-mail the following documents in pdf format to orde@baliebrussel.be:
- A completed, dated and signed application form mentioning an office address in the judicial district of Brussels or Halle-Vilvoorde
[English application form B-list]
[Dutch application form B-list]
[German application form B-list] - Certificate of registration with the home state Bar Association that is no more than 3 months old or a valid practising certificate.
A B-list candidate
- Evidence that the requisite training period has been completed in compliance with the rules of the applicant’s home Bar, or, if this cannot be obtained, a statement on honour or sworn statement that the training formalities have been completed.
- Certificate of good standing issued by the home state Bar Association that is no more than 3 months old.
- Evidence of the status of the applicant in Belgium (copy of the residence permit, recognition as political refugee, etc.).
- Proof of professional liability insurance coverage for the activities carried out as a lawyer in Belgium. An insurance certificate of the applicant should be added confirming that the Belgian activities of the applicant are insured for an amount of at least € 2.5 million per claim with an excess of maximum € 2.500,00.
- Proof of professional liability insurance coverage for the activities carried out as a lawyer in Belgium. An insurance certificate of the applicant should be added confirming that the Belgian activities of the applicant are insured for an amount of at least € 2.5 million per claim with an excess of maximum € 2.500,00.
- Lawyers applying for registration on the B-list can indicate their wish to opt into the collective professional liability insurance scheme subscribed to by the Brussels Bar in the application form. In that case, no insurance certificate needs to be added.
- Proof of payment of the one-time registration fee (see below ‘costs’).
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Dutch Brussels Bar
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